Category Archives: Politics
Oyo Govt Goes After Ajimobi’s Finance Commissioner, Adelabu Over N13B Contract Fraud
-Karim Balogun
The executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Zaccheus Adelabu has a lot to grind as he has been declared wanted by the Oyo State Government over an alleged N13B contract fraud.
The Iwo-Ate born politician who was the Commissioner for Finance under Governor Abiola Ajimobi before he was replaced by Bimbo Adekambi was alleged of the fraud which has led to the arrest of many serving and retired civil servants in the State.
It was alleged that a construction company, Chinese Global Resources with links to Adelabu was awarded a contract to construct the Ibadan-Eruwa road, a project that was abandoned and funds not accounted for.
The governement was said to have reached out to Adelabu on countless occasions, but that his attempt to settle the matter under the table was rebuffed by Governor Makinde who asked him to give a detailed account of the contract or be arrested.
The new Oyo State Anti Corruption Agency set up by Governor Makinde was said to have discovered more corrupt practices perpetrated in the name of the former Commissioner.
Zach Adelabu, according to many was one of the most powerful people in the government of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
The 44-year old man who also attempted to contest for the governorship of Oyo State at a time is said to be fond of lavish and flamboyant lifestyle.
He drives a Bentley and has a score of properties in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, according to investigation.
PANIC IN OYO AS GOVT EXHUMES N4.8B CONTRACT FRAUD, ARRESTS CIVIL SERVANTS
The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) on Wednesday, announced that some serving and retired civil servants of the State have been arrested for fraudulent contract, awarded in 2018.
The fraud, according to a statement signed by the agency’s Chairman, Justice Eni Esan (retired) was said to have been perpetrated by the individuals at the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) and information about it concealed till the State’s anti-graft agency discovered it.
The act, according to the statement, involved the payment of the sum of #4.8billion to the three private companies without delivering the project and the agency is now after the said companies since the case was established and the officers involved arrested.
The agency claimed it is after the said companies since the case has been established and the officers involved have been arrested for further investigation and prosecution by the State’s Attorney-General.
“The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) has nabbed some retired and serving top civil servants of Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) for complicity in a fraudulent contract awarded in 2018.
“OYACA was able to discover this fraud despite concealment by the affected top officials to thwart the investigation exercise, the fraud involved the payment of humongous amount of money in the sum of #4.8billion to three companies yet to show up for investigation in spite of our invitations.
“The agency is on the heels of the affected companies to recoup the money paid into their accounts in 2018 for supplies not made to date, while investigation is still ongoing, OYACA makes bold to say that the law is no respecter of persons and everyone who has any form of connection with the matter will be dealt with according to the law.
“We hereby reiterate our commitment to zero tolerance of corruption in the public service of Oyo State,” it affirmed.
2023: Atiku Tears Makinde, Alleluyah Apart
As the nation builds up to the forthcoming general elections, the camp of the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde has lost a key member in the person of Senator Hosea Agboola popularly called ‘Alleluya’ within the government circle.
Those in the know claimed the Governor and Agboola who was the Chairman, Advisory Council to the Governor fell apart over who to support for President in 2023.
Agboola, a former Senator favours the PDP flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar while Makinde, Governor Ortom and Governor Wike had shown from their moves that they are against the choice of Atiku as the candidate.
Agboola was known as one of the closest aides to Governor Makinde and it came as a huge surprise when he made his intention known with the declaration that he cannot work with any other presidential candidate except Atiku Abubakar.
The former Senator hinged his reasons on past relationship and party progress, he has always been one of the points men of the former Vice President in the South West.
According to pundits, Agboola’s exit from the Makinde group could cause some set backs as he is regarded as a grassroot mobiliser.
Other political groups within the PDP in Oyo State had a contrary reason as they see Agboola as one of the hands misleading governor ,Makinde and tagged
his decision to pitch with Atiku a good riddance.
Why Makinde’s Deputy, Bayo Lawal’s ‘Asiwaju Ni Wa’ Chant Unsettles APC, Folarin In Oyo
– Femi Salako
The chant of the first line of Ibadan anthem ‘Asiwaju ni wa ni ipinle Oyo’ by the Deputy-Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal is said to be giving sleepless night to many as it interprets the direction in the coming 2023 elections in Oyo State.
The chants by the politician was made recently in Ondo State when the leadership of Afenifere met at the home of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti to endorse the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Lawal represented Governor Seyi Makinde in the meeting where he claimed ‘whenever there is a event, either organised by Afenifere or any other Yoruba group, Gov Makinde will always be supportive. Though we are not of the same political affiliation, but we are bound by ethnicity.
Lawal’s remarks at the meeting had a huge impact in Oyo State as many believed his message was a validation of what to come judging by the prediction that the Oyo State Governor would work with Tinubu to actualise his ambition to become the President instead of Atiku Abubakar who is the flagbearer of his party, PDP.
The indication also had a strong effect in the camp of Senator Teslim Folarin, the governorship candidate of the APC in Oyo State.
The permutation which many believed was one of the conditions given at the earlier meeting with Tinubu by Governor Nyesom Wike and Seyi Makinde had to do with the governorship elections in Oyo State in 2023.
Some pundits who observed that Governor Makinde is taking everything easy with the mind of a guaranteed success advised he should not be too comfortable citing surprises and historical political events in the past, also with regards that the presidential election precedes the governorship election.
‘I don’t need you to win Oyo’ ‘Want you to mend fences with Amaechi’ (insiders recall Tinubu’s meeting with Makinde, Wike)
A source has revealed to papermacheonline the details of the meetings between Governor Nyesom Wike, Governor Seyi Makinde and the APC presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards 2023.
Tinubu was claimed to have accepted that he needs the total support of Wike to win the South South but gave some conditions regarding Rotimi Amaechi which he gave the Rivers State Governor the reason for them to settle their differences.
In his words to the Oyo State governor, the APC stalwart confessed his admiration but pointed out that he doesn’t really need help to win Oyo State, but calls for every support Makinde could render.
Wike while giving details to newsmen on his meeting with Tinubu claimed its in the interest of Nigeria, but those in the know revealed that the Rivers governor came with his own demands and conditions which the Tinubu group is critically going through.
The Tinubu group is said to have advised that the party give all supports to the flagbearer in Oyo state, Senator Teslim Folarin thus not considering working with the Oyo State governor other than on personal terms and agreement.
It is believed that the PDP governors are not willing to work with Atiku, their party’s presidential candidate for obvious reasons.
In a twist to the whole plan, the Atiku campaign group recently made the Oyo State governor, Makinde the Vice Chairman of its campaign group.
Top aides of Governor Makinde while being probed by papermacheonline to know the stand of their principal in the coming elections claimed all the plans and mode of operation of Governor Makinde will soon unfold.
Amaechi May Dump APC! Insiders Reveal
There are strong indications that the former Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi is perfecting plans to dump the APC where he contested its presidency ticket for another party.
This is coming from what is tagged the former Minister’s fury towards the public romance of Governor Nyesom Wike and top members of the APC.
It is a known fact that Wike and Amaechi are sworn enemies.
Some loyalists of the former Rivers State Governor hinted that the public romance with Wike by some APC chieftains was seen as a plot to ridicule him in what he termed a move to get back at him for contesting the APC presidential ticket.
The flagbearer of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is alleged of the plot to ridicule Amaechi who came second in the primary election to select the presidential candidate of the APC.
It was alleged that the Tinubu camp bypassed Amaechi and plan to work with Wike to achieve victory in the presidential elections.
Tinubu’s camp were said to have realised Amaechi cannot be trusted, judging by past experience and have decided to work with Wike.
There is also an angle of Magnus Abe who is said to be one of Tinubu’s ‘boys’.
Loyalists of Amaechi are claimed to be wrapping up plans to dump the APC and pitch their tent with another party.
The PDP, who has Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer is tipped as their next destination.
It is said there’s a plan for Atiku to meet Amaechi so they can both reach a conclusion before Amaechi can unveil his move.
Governor Nyesom Wike had earlier stated he could invite anyone that pleases him for his commissioning after the noise that greeted his invitation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to commission some projects in Rivers.
In the past few weeks, APC strong members likeGovernor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Kayode Fayemi, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and some others have met with Wike in a manner considered as a romance for him to work with APC.
Concerns Over The Health Of The Olubadan, To Be Flown Abroad (reveals palace source)
There is concern over the health of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun as palace sources hinted that the monarch would be flown abroad any moment soon.
The 42nd Olubadan who was installed on March 11, 2022 amidst fanfare is said to have been battling an undisclosed ailment which sees him moving in and out of hospitals for the past few weeks.
A source from the Ali-Iwo compound, family house of the King reveals to papermacheonline that ‘Kabiesi’s sickness is related with his age, you know he is in his 80s, we are waiting for an approval from the Oyo State Government before we fly him to the United Kingdom for treatment.
The first indication about the monarch’s illness came some weeks ago when one of his children married in London, the King was absent and was represented by his younger brother, Senator Kola Balogun.
Oba Lekan Balogun was a former Presidential Aspirant on the platform of Social Democratic Party(SDP),he was also a Gubernatorial Candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State in the present political dispensation and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Fourth Republic before he ascended his father’s throne as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
